Tractor mower



April 1941- c. J. FREDERIKSEN 2,240,292

TRACTOR MOWER Filed Nov. 29, 19:59 s Sh' ts-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR: CARL J. FREDERIKSEN ATTORNEYS.

April '29, 1941. Q gpgR sg 2,240,292

TRACTOR MOWER Filed Nov. 29, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 2 53 INVENTOR- Q 9 CARL J. FREDERIKSEN 48 3a 53 3b 3 I5 Patented Apr. 29, 1941 T orries TRACTOR MOWER Carl J. Frederiksen, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a. corporation of lllmo s Application November 29, 1939, Serial No. 306,690

". 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to tractor mowers and has for its principal object the provision of novel and improved lifting and supporting mechanismfor the mower cutter bar. More specifically, a further object of my invention is concerned with the provision, in a mower of the type pivotally mounted on a tractor and adapted to swing rearwardly to avoid damage to the cutter bar when the latter strikes an obstruction in the field, of improved lifting mechanism wherein thecontrol levers are mounted on the tractor body and are connected by novel linkage mechanism to the cutter bar .structure, the linkage providing for rearward swinging movement of the cutter bar structurerelative to the lifting levers on the tractor. A further and related object concerns a linkage connection from a control lever on the tractor tolifting mechanism on the cutter bar structure which is automatically restored to operating position when the cutter bar structure is swung. back to its normal operating position after it has been released to clear an obstruction in the field.

A furtherobject of my invention relates to the "provision of a lifting and supporting mechanism forthe supporting arm of a mower cutter bar by means of whichthe inner ends of-the cutter bar can be supported at a predetermined distance above the level of the ground on which the wheels of the tractor are operating. This provision is used wherev the mower is used for cutting the grass along the sides of a highway where the tractor runs along a curbingand cuts grass in a parkway above the curbing. By supporting the cutter bar in this manner, the latter is held in operating position as the tractor crosses a street intersection and thus does not require raising the mower every time it is necessary to cross an intersection.

Still another object has to do with the provision of latch mechanism between the supporting lever and the cutter bar supporting arm, the latch mechanism being disengageable when the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly to clear an obstruction, but after the structure has been restored to operating position, the latch mechanism can be reconnected by merely loweringthe control lever to pick up the supporting arm.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent after a consideration of the following description in which reference is had to the appended drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a mower mounted on a tractor and showing the lifting and supporting mechanism for the cutter bar and the cutter bar supporting arm; j

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing thedetails of the latch for connecting the control lever with the cutter bar supporting arm; 1 p

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the mower shown in Figure I mounted on a tractor in which the near traction wheel has been removed, to show more clearly the "details of the invention, the cutter bar being in operating position at a level above the level of the ground on which the tractor is operating;

Figure 4 is a side elevation in which the mower is shown intrailing position 'behindithe tractor h after it has been swung rearwardly to clear an obstruction in the field; and

Figure 5is aplan mower.

Referring now to the drawings, the mower view of the tractor-mounted disclosed in'this embodiment of my invention is of the-typedisclosed by W. J. Coultasin an application Serial No. 257,804, filed February 23, .1939. The mower, indicated generally by reference numeral I0, is mounted on a tractor ll comprising a frame which includes a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced t'ubula'r frame members I2. The rear ends of the frame members are fixed toa'transversely extending-rear axlehousing I3 'at opposite ends of which'are mounted a pair'of rear traction wheels l4, l5, respectively. The forward ends of the frame members are supported on'a front 'dirigible truck [6 and on the front end of the frame iscarried an engine housing I], out of which extends rearwardly a propeller shaft 18 for driving the tractor wheels l4, l5 (see Figures 3 and4). Normally the propeller shaft l8is protected by a guard casing l9, shown in Figure 1. I

The mower 10 comprises a cutter bar structure 25 which includes generally a cutter bar 26 of more or less conventional design, supported on a supporting arm 21. The inner end of the cutter bar 26 is carried on a conventional shoe 28 pivotally connected by a pair of aligned pivot bolts 29, 30 to a shoe arch 3| (see Figure 3). The pivot bolts 29, 30 are longitudinally aligned to provide for vertical swinging movement of the cutter bar 26 in a transversely extending vertical plane. The shoe arch 3| is carried on a sleeve 32, which. is journaled on the outer end of the supporting arm 21, providing for a limited amount of tilting movement of the shoe 28 with respect to the arm 2'! as is well known to those sln'lled in the art. The opposite end of the arm 21 is provided with .2 w l a rearwardly extending portion 3'0, which is journaled in a supporting casing 34 (see Figure 3) thus providing for vertical swinging movement of the supporting arm 21 about a fore and aft extendinsaxis. Thesimportingcastingfl is pivotally connected by means of a pivot bolt 35 to a plate 30 carried on a transverse frame member 81 which is simported-on the rear axle housing it. Thus the mower cutter bar structure is freely swingable horizontally about the vertical axis of the pivot bolt II. The structure is normally held in a transversely extending operating position, however, by means of a latch arm ll fixed at its rear end to the supporting casting 34 and extending forwardly therefrom. The forward end ll of the latch arm 4. is held by means of a suitable spring latch 42 carried on a support 3 which is fixed to the tractor frame by means of bolts 44. The details of the latch mechanism I! have nothing to do with the present invention and are therefore not disclosed herein for the sake of simplicity, but suilice it to say that the latch 42 is yieldable when the cutter bar 26 encounters an obstruction in the field, thereby permitting the cutter bar structure to swing rearwardly about the pivot bolt 35 to clear the obstruction.

Inasmuch as the cutter bar structure is pivoted at one side of the tractor and extends across under the frame of the tractor and laterally therefrom at the opposite side of the tractor in front of the rear wheel of the latter, it is obvious that as the cutter bar swings rearwardly upon encountering an obstruction, it swings into contact with the tractor wheel. In order to provide for swinging the cutter bar around to its trailing position behind the tractor, a ramp or shield 46 is provided over the shoe arch 3| to permit the tractor wheel to roll over the cutter bar structure as the latter swings rearwardly. The ramp is curved downwardly at 41 at the rear end thereof, and is also curved downwardly at ll at the forward end thereof to facilitate the passing of the wheel over the ramp and to lift the rear wheel tire without damage thereto.

The mower is provided with a reciprocating sickle 50 which is driven in a conventional manner by means of a pltman if connected to the sickle Si by means of a ball and socket joint 52. The opposite end of the pitman is journaled on a suitable crank carried on a flywheel 53 which is mounted on a shaft 53 Journaled for rotation about a fore and aft extending axis on the supporting casting 34. The outer surface 54 of the flywheel 53 serves as a pulley to receive a the belt at which is trained over a driving pulley 56 on the propeller shaft ll. During operation, the belt 55 is maintained tight in power transmitting relation by means of an idler pulley 51 carried on an arm 58 which is swingably supported on a bracket 59 by means of a bolt in.

The bracket 5! is fixed to the tractor frame mem- 7 her if. When the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly, the pulleys i3, 56 swing closer together and loosen the belt. thereby interrupting the drive to the sickle II. The latch bar 40 is braced to the shoe arch 3| by means of a tie rod ii which is swingably connected to permit the arm 21 to swing vertically in a transverse plane.

The cutter bar 2 is swung upwardly about the pivot bolts 29, 3! to an inoperative position for transport, by means of a more or less conventional arrangement of a bell crank lever 65 journaled in a lug it on the shoe arch 3| and connected to an upwardly extending arm ll on the cutter bar 26 by means of a chain I. It is with the control of the bell crank 65 that one feature of my invention is directly concerned. A hand control lever 8! is pivotally carried on a plate in which is rigidly supported on the transverse member 31. This lever 6! is Journaled on an arm II, the rear end of which is in turn swingably carried on the plate ll, thus providing for independent swinging movement of the arm H and the control lever 69. When the lever 69 is pulled rearwardly, however, the arm II is raised by virtue of a cradle member I! which is fixed, as by welding, to the lever It and extends under the arm II. The arm ll, however, is free to be swung upwardly out of the cradle member 12. The outer end of the arm H is provided with an open slot 13 in which is supported a hook 14 which is fixed on the upwardly turned forward end portion 15 of a rod I8 serving as a track for a track follower II. The track follower 11 comprises a pulley or roller II which is adapted to roll along the track It and is journaled on a pin 19 supported on a U-shaped clevis ill. The clevis 80 is connected to the end of the bell crank 65 by means of an eye bolt Ii. When the cutter bar structure of the mower is disposed in normal operating position, the track follower ll isdisposed at the forward end of the track tion 15.

16 immediately behind the upwardly turned sec- During operation the cutter bar is free to move up and down and follow the contour of the ground, but when it is desired to raise the cutter bar to inoperative or transport position, the lever 69 is pulled rearwardly, thereby raising the arm H by means of the cradle 12 and thus raising the track It and the track follower l1 and thereby swingingthe bell crank 65 upwardly to raise the cutter bar. The cutter bar is retained in transport position by means of a movable latch member on the leveris, which is adapted to engage behind a projection 88 on the edge of the plate II, the upper edge of whichis formed ina circular are about the axis of movement of the lever is. A spring 81, connected i between the lever 68 and the rear axle housing l3, prevents the lever from dropping forwardly out of convenient reach of the operator. To lower the cutter bar to operative position, the latch member 85 is disengaged from the praisetion It by an actuating lever ll pivoted at I! at the upper end of the control lever 69 and connected to the latch member I! by means of a rod 90. 1

The track rod 15 extends substantially horizontally and rearwardly for a short distance to provide a supporting portion for the track follower when the latter is in normal position. From this point the rod bends downwardly under the rear axle housing of the tractor and the rear end of the rod is bent upwardly at ii to a supporting bracket 82 fixed to the tractorframe. The rear end of the rod Si is held loosely in the bracket 92 to permit the rod to swing laterally about the front and rear points of support. When the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly, the track follower ll slides rearwardly along the rod 16, and inasmuch as the latter moves in an are about the pivot bolt 35, there is a component of movement transversely across the tractor. To accommodate this transverse movement of the track follower, the track It swings laterally in its front and rear points of support to the position shown in Figure 4.

When the mower is used for cutting grass along curbings on boulevards and highways, it is desirable that the cutter bar be supported at the curb level in order to obviate the necessity of raising the cutter bar every time it is necessary to cross a street intersection. This is accomplished by providing an adjustable supporting lever for setting the height of the supporting arm 21 relative to the tractor frame. It is evident, however, that the mower must be immediately released from its elevated position whenever the latch bar 40 is released from the holding latch 42 to allow the cutter bar to swing rearwardly to clear an obstruction, since the tractor wheel must ride over the ramp 46 during this operation. For this purpose I have provided a hand lever I pivotally supported on the bolt 44 on the tractor frame for vertical swinging movement and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to a position within convenient reach of the operator of the tractor. The position of the lever I00 is determined by a latch pawl I 0| which slides in a guide I02 on the lever and engages any of a series of notches I03 in a sector I04 which is rigidly attached to a bracket I05 supported on the tractor frame member I2. Fixed to the outer end of the cutter bar supporting arm 21 is a latch element I06 comprising a plate, the lower end of which is curved to fit the arm 21, as at I01, and is clamped thereto by means of a cooperating strap I08 disposed on the opposite side of the arm 21 and secured to the element I06 by a pair of clamping bolts I09. The plate I06 extends upwardly from the arm 21 in a transversely extending plane and the upper end of the plate is bent forwardly to provide a latch support IIO which is adapted to cooperate with and be supported by a rearwardly extending hooked portion I II at the lower end of a vertically slidable member II2 which is confined withina pair of vertically spaced U-shaped guides H3, H4, respectively. The U-shaped guide rods H3, H4 are horizontally disposed with their ends inserted through suitable apertures provided in the bracket plate I05, in which they are secured by any suitable means. The upper guide H3 is adapted to closely embrace the slidable member I I 2 to prevent any fore and aft sliding movement of the latter, while the lower guide I I4 is made appreciably longer, thus permitting the member II 2 to be swung in a longitudinally extending vertical plane with the upper guide II3 serving as a fulcrum and the lower guide II4 providing a slot within which the lower end of the slidable member II2 can be moved into and out of engagement with the latch portion III! of the element I06. The two cooperative latching portions IIO, III of the members I06, II2, respectively, are held in engagement with each other during operation by means of a coil spring II5 whichembraces and is supported on a bolt II6 fixed to the inner side of the bracket I05. The spring II5 has an upper end II1 which engages the bracket I05, the opposite end II8 being disposed in engagement with the lower portion of the slidable member H2 and biased to force the latter rearwardly into engagement with the latch portion II 0. At the upper end of the slidable hook member I I2 is bolted an inverted U-shaped connecting bracket I20. This, bracket is connected to the lever I 00 by means of a vertically extending link I2I. The upper end of the link I2I extends through an opening I22 in the lever I 00 and continues upwardly from the opposite side of the lever to form a handle I23 by means of which the sliding member II2 can be rocked within the guides H3, H4. Thus by pushing forwardly on the handle I23, the link I2I is swung rearwardly, thereby swinging the lower portion of .the slidable member II2 forwardly against the pressure of the spring H5 and disengaging the latching portions IIO, III, in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The purpose of this handle I23 is to provide means for easily disengaging the latch for dropping the cutter bar down to ground level after it has been used along a curb. The supporting arm 21 can be picked up once more for elevation to the curb level by releasing the latch pawl IOI from the notch I03 and moving the lever I 00downwardly and thereby sliding the latch element II2 downwardly against the top of the latch plate I06. The lower ed e I 24 0f the hook portion II I is inclined to provide a camming action as the edge engages the latch portion IIO to force the hook forwardly against the action of the spring II5 to clear the latch portion II 0 after which the spring II5 returns the hook III into engagement with the corresponding latch portion IIO, after which the lever I00 may be raised once more, carrying with it the cutter bar supporting arm 21. The arm 21 may be set at any desired cutting height by releasing the latch pawl IOI into engagement with one of the notches I03. The latch pawl I M is controlled by a lever I26 at the end of the handle I00 and connected to the pawl by means of a connecting rod I25.

The lifting of the cutter bar supporting arm 21 is facilitated by means of a counterbalancing spring I30 connected at its lower end to the lever I00 by means of a cotter pin I3I'. The spring I30 extends upwardly therefrom and is anchored at its upper end to an eye-bolt I32 to a framework I 33 comprising an inverted U-shaped strap member, one end of which is connected by a bolt I34 to'the upper end of the sector I04 and the other end of the U-shaped member is supported on the bracket 59. The support I33 is rigidly braced by means of an inclined bracing member I35 connected between the support I33 and the bracket 59. The eye-bolt I32 extends upwardly through a suitable aperture in the top of the support I33 and is secured thereto by means of a pair of nuts I36 threaded on the end thereof. The tension in the spring I30 can be adjusted by adjusting the nuts I36 along the eye-bolt I32.

For operation of the mower in the field or along a highway which has no curbing, the mower is dropped to ground level by pressing forward on the handle I23, releasing the latch hook III. When it .is desired to out along a curbing, the supporting arm 21 is raised by lowering the lever I00 until the latching portions III], III become engaged and then raising the arm 21 to the desired level. This high cutting feature may also be brought into use when it is desired to cut the heads from grain in a field but leaving most of the straw uncut. When the mower is in high cutting position and encounters a stump or other obstruction, causing the latch 42 to release the mower for rearward swinging movement, the latch element H0 is disengaged from the hookIII, thereby dropping the cutter bar immediately to the ground in position for the rear tractor wheel to roll over the ramp to permit the mower to swing rearwardly to trailing position behind the tractor.

I claim:

1. In a mower, a frame, a cutter bar structure swingably connected thereto, and means for supporting said structure comprising a track carried on said frame and extending in the direction of swinging movement of said structure, and a track follower on said track connected to said structure at a position spaced from the swingable connection thereof and adapted to follow said track as the cutter bar structure swings.

2. In a mower, a frame, a cutter bar structure swingably connected thereto, and means for lifting and supporting said structure comprising a lifting lever pivoted on said frame, a track carried on said lever and extending in the direction of swinging movement of said structure, and a track follower on said track connected to said structure at a position spaced from the swingable connection thereof and adapted to follow said track as the cutter bar structure swings.

3. In a mower, a wheel supported frame, an

arm swingably connected thereto for vertical and horizontal swinging movement, a cutter bar mounted on said arm by means providing for vertical swinging movement of said cutter bar relative to said arm, means for swinging said cutter bar vertically on said arm including a lever mounted on said frame, a track carried by said lever to be raised and lowered thereby, and a track follower engaging said track and connected to said cutter bar and adapted to move along said track as said arm and cutter bar swing rearwardly, and means for raising and supporting said arm relative to said frame comprising a second lever mounted on said frame, and means connecting said second lever with said arm,

4. In a mow-er, a wheel supported frame, a cutter bar structure pivotally connected thereto by means providing for swinging said structure rearwardly from operating position when the latter meets an obstruction in the field, a lifting lever pivoted on said frame, and means including a latch connecting said lever to said structure for lifting the latter in operating position, said latch being disengageable by rearward movement of said structure.

5. In a mower, a wheel supported frame, a cutter bar structure pivotally connected thereto by means providing for swinging said structure rearwardly from operating position when the latter meets an obstruction in the field, a lifting lever pivoted on said frame, and means connecting said lever to said structure for lifting the latter in operating position, including a rearwardly facing hook engageable withsaid structure, the latter being readily disengaged from said hook when said structure swings rearwardly.

6. In a mower, a wheel supported frame, a cutter bar structure pivotally connected thereto by means providing for swinging said structure rearwardly from operating position when the latter meets an obstruction in the field, a lifting lever pivoted on said frame, and means connecting said, lever to said structure for lifting the latter in operating position, including a vertically slidable member supported in guides on said frame and having a hooked portion adapted to engage said arm and means connecting said member and said lever, said arm being readily disengaged from said hook when said structure swings rearwardly.

7. In an implement, a supporting frame, a tool swingably connected thereto for movement out of and into operating position, means releasably holding said tool in operating position, a track carried on said frame and extending in the direction of swinging movement of said tool, and a track follower on said track and connected to said tool at a position spaced from the swingable connection thereof and adapted to follow said track as the tool swings.

8. In an implement, a supporting frame, a tool swingably connected thereto for movement out of and into operating position, means releasably holding said tool in operating position, a track carried on said frame and extending in the direction of swinging movement of said tool, anda track follower on said track and connected to said tool at a position spaced from the swingable connection thereof and adapted to follow said track as the tool swings, and means for raising and lowering at least one end of said track.

9. In a mower. a wheel-supported frame, a cutter bar structure pivotally connected thereto for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto out of operating position when the mower meets-an obstruction in the field, and means for lifting and supporting said structure comprising a lifting lever mounted on said frame, a track carried on said lever and raised and lowered thereby, and a track follower on said track attached to said structure and adapted to move along said track when the structure swings rearwardly relative to said frame.

10. In a mower, a wheel-supported frame, a cutter bar structure pivotally connected thereto for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto out of operating position when the mower meets an obstruction in the field, and means for lifting and supporting said structure comprising a lifting lever mounted on said frame, a track member having one end supported on said lever and the other end supported on said frame, and a track follower on said track attached to said structure and adapted to move along said track when the structure swings rearwardly relative to said frame.

11. In a mower, a wheel-supported frame, a cutter bar structure pivotally connected thereto for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto outof operating position when the mower meets an obstruction in the field, and means for lifting and supporting said structure comprising a lifting lever mounted on said frame, a longitudinally extending track member spaced below said lever and having means for swingably suspending the member therefrom providing a limited lateral swinging movement relative thereto, and a track follower on said track attached to said structure and adapted to move along said track when the structure swings rearwardly, said track being adapted to swing laterally to accommodate the swinging movement of said structure.

12. In a mower, a wheel-supported frame, an arm pivotally connected thereto for horizontal swinging, a cutter bar mounted on said arm by means providing for vertical swinging movement of said cutter bar relative to said arm, and means for swinging said cutter bar vertically comprising a lever pivoted on said frame, a track carried by said lever, and a track follower engaging said track and connected to said cutter bar and adapted to move along said track when said arm swings horizontally.

13. In a mower, a wheel-supported frame, an arm supported on said frame by means providing for vertical, and horizontal swinging movement relative the'reto, a cutter bar hinged to said arm for vertical swinging movement, a lever pivoted on said frame, and a pair of disengageable latching elements on said lever and said arm, respectively, means for yieldingly supporting one of said elements so that said elements will latch together when the lever is swung downwardly with the arm in operating position and be retained in latched relation to permit the arm to be raised and lowered by said lever, and said latching elements being disengaged when said arm is swung horizontally relative to said frame.

14. In a mower, a wheel-supported frame, an arm supported on said frame by means providing for vertical and horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, a cutter bar hinged to said arm for vertical swinging movement, a lever pivoted on said frame, and a latching element connected to said lever, a guide on said frame, means for supporting said element for vertical sliding movement and limited swinging movement in a vertical plane on said guide, a hooked portion on said element adapted to engage said arm, and spring means for holding said slidable member in engagement with said arm during normal operation, said latching element being disengaged from said arm by horizontal swinging movement 01. said arm.

15. In an implement, a supporting frame, a

tool releasably held in operating position, a lifting member on the frame for lifting and holding said tool in elevated position, and disengageable means releasably connecting said member with said tool, said last named means being disengaged by movement of said tool out of operating position, and means for reenga'ging said releasable means by movement of said tool to operating position.

16. In an implement, a supporting frame, a tool member swingably connected thereto for vertical and horizontal movement, a lifting member on the frame for lifting and holding said tool in elevated-position, and means connecting said members including a track on one of said members and a track follower on said track and connected to the other of said members and adapted to follow said track as said tool member swings horizontally,

CARL J. FREDERIKSEN. 

